Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Picek said Sammons received the increased sentence because he failed to complete a court-ordered inpatient sex treatment program at the River City Correctional Facility in Cincinnati.

“Shortly after he arrived at the River City Correctional Facility to complete his sex offender training, he was involved in an altercation, damaged some property and they terminated him from that program,” he said.

Because he didn’t complete the program, Sammons was automatically in violation of the terms of his release. Picek said because Sammons admitted to the violation, the judge issued the maximum possible sentence.

He now also faces charges in Hamilton County due to the altercation at the River City facility.

Sammons pleaded guilty to a charge of gross sexual imposition last year stemming from an October 2016 incident where a witness allegedly found him naked and touching a 3-year-old child as they slept in the same bed at the Drake Motel in Springfield. He faced a maximum of five years in prison, but was sentenced to six months in jail and community control, in addition to being ordered to complete the treatment program.

He also must register as a tier two sex offender for the next 25 years.

Picek said he was happy with the outcome of Friday’s hearing.

“He’s received the most serious punishment he can get under the law of Ohio that he can possibly get in this case, so we’re happy and we do feel that justice has been served,” he said.

Kenneth Sammons and his attorney Shawn Murphy talk after Sammons was sentenced to five years in prison. JEFF GUERINI/STAFF
Photo: Staff Writer